Professor Longhair’s Legacy

Pat Byrd, Fess’s daughter. credit: Cedric A. EllsworthThe name that our musical guests have most consistently mentioned is Professor Longhair. It began, well, at the beginning. Longhair, whose friends call him Fess, figured into the very first answer from the very first guest on the very first Music Inside Out.

Since then, others have conjured his name when describing the best of New Orleans music. As it turns out, Longhair — who died in 1980 — remains a guiding spirit to musicians and music lovers everywhere. So as a matter of duty and privilege, we’re spreading the joy.

This week’s show is devoted to Henry Roeland Byrd, a.k.a Professor Longhair, and features some of his most ardent musical disciples. We hear from David Torkanowsky, Reggie Scanlan, and Allen Toussaint. We’re also talking with Longhair’s daughter, Pat. As Longhair might say, we’re gonna “Ball the Wall!”

The House on Terpsichore

From start to (almost) finished — the work of Project Homecoming volunteers.

Fesstoration Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on February 21, 2014 in New Orleans, Louisiana, by Stephen Maloney www.offbeat.com (click photo for more images)The good and hardworking people of Project Homecoming have done some good and hard work: they have restored Professor Longhair’s House on Terpsichore Street.

Pat Byrd has a beautiful place to call her own — and there’s a fine testament to the man who changed the sound of music as we know it.

We congratulate all the volunteers who did the work on the house and to all who contributed to the effort of saving this landmark.

Piano Players Rarely Ever Play Together

In 1982, Stevenson Palfi produced a landmark documentary titled “Piano Players Rarely Ever Play Together” (IMDB), which chronicled three generations of New Orleans piano players. In this excerpt, we see both Professor Longhair and Allen Toussaint.

The restoration of Professor Longhair’s home on Tersichore Street, March 2013. photo: Gregg Goldman

Longhair Resources

Music Inside Out is a weekly radio program that celebrates the music and musicians of Louisiana and explores both their influences and their impact around the world. Host Gwen Thompkins is an enthusiastic believer in great music and you hear that, week after week.

Tune in to Music Inside Out on WWNO 89.9 FM in New Orleans Thursdays at 7:00p and Saturdays at Noon. And you can listen to the shows right here, online, anytime.